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-   -   Tips for using points for vacation flights (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1965332-tips-using-points-vacation-flights.html)

iapetus Apr 14, 2019 11:49 am


Originally Posted by cfischer (Post 30999014)
If you book in advance and with some flexibility you can most certainly redeem your miles on these routes easily.

I think that this point needs to be emphasized. If one is looking to redeem miles for saver awards, booking as far in advance as possible is key. I just missed out by a couple of days (literally) on securing saver award travel LAX-LHR last month for June travel ... and I was booking that travel pretty late in the game. With this dynamic award pricing, I suspect that this is going to be an even more important part of the strategy in the future.

mduell Apr 14, 2019 12:03 pm


Originally Posted by JohnCecil (Post 30998982)
That is awful; thank you for sharing/forwarding. With the variable points by schedule, it seems to me that maybe they've incorporated much of this variable pricing already; just cutting the strings - there is a huge variation already between the points for the same destination based on whether you'll accept a painful schedule. Feel like my naivete over airlines has just been broken ... and here I thought going Platinum would actually result in some loyalty from them toward customers.

United has had 2 tiers of awards for a long time, saver and everyday (formerly standard).

Saver is available in limited quantities, so this may be what you're finding with long layovers or non-preferred timings. As a platinum you have better saver availability than general members.

Everday awards have last seat availability, anything available for purchase is available for 2-3x the saver price.

StuckinITH Apr 14, 2019 12:05 pm


Originally Posted by EdofFX (Post 30999369)
Is there a "San Juan" in Costa Rica? Or did you mean either San Juan or Costa Rica?

I think the confusion came because the San Jose airport (SJO) in Costa Rica is called Juan something (the something being Santamaria).

I recall that when BA opened the routes to SJO and SJC at about the same time some passengers booked their flights to the wrong destination.

Aussienarelle Apr 14, 2019 1:07 pm


Originally Posted by StuckinITH (Post 30999517)
I think the confusion came because the San Jose airport (SJO) in Costa Rica is called Juan something (the something being Santamaria).

I recall that when BA opened the routes to SJO and SJC at about the same time some passengers booked their flights to the wrong destination.

The first time I went to Costa Rica in 2009 I went to SJO. Long way to the Pacific beaches. This last time (November 2018) went to LIR. Much better location for getting to where I wanted to go to and easy airport for car rentals. Next time it will be LIR again.

SFOdelayed Apr 14, 2019 3:43 pm

Well at least you’re not trying to redeem SkyPesos on DL. You’d have a heart attack.


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